I saw a news report recently about a man who, inspired by his son, wrote a book about slacking off. The son, as it turned out, took a couch potato position for a few months before getting a job (the piece also disclosed that the dad had spent several years on a commune during his youth). Arguments were made as to the value of "slacking" and the losses in productivity attributed to "water cooler" and other forms of slacking off. Like many "perceived" discussions along these lines, I think they miss the point.

The premise seems to be that ALL non-productive, non-busy time, is wasteful. It isn't! In business and commerce, sufficient human (and other) resources are needed to meet demand peaks, not merely average needs if work is to proceed most effectively and efficiently. Staffing for the average functionality without concern for being able to meet peak demand is dangerous and irresponsible. Understaffing, in the hope that temporary workers can bridge any needed gap, is just as dangerous as overstaffing. Slack time is the needed reserve to ensure maximum productivity. It can be used constructively. It can be restorative. And the potential for "water cooler" productivity and insight should not be underestimated.

Are you giving yourself, your associates, your suppliers, your customers and your family and friends enough slack so that your relationships can be their most productive and most resilient? Or are you over committing, mistaking busy-ness for productivity? If the quality of your life and work is wanting, give yourself some SLACK.